Passenger window regulator/clip issue

[luvmy03E53]

Lowered the front passenger window today to chat with a friend at a stoplight, and the window would not go back up. Then gradually as I was driving home, the window went all the way down, I assume from the vibration of driving. Could not get the window to go back up with the driver's door switch. When I got home, I removed the door panel and the vapor barrier (whoever applied vapor barrier to that door in assembly deserves a medal for doing it right... ). I was able to coax the window up far enough to have a look at the point where the glass attaches to the regulator. The photo shows what I found. No evidence of the clip being there, and not even any broken parts of the clip lying in the bottom of the door. My question is, do I therefore need an entire regulator assembly, or do I just need a new clip? I'm thinking the front clip is still intact, since I can lower the window with the passenger door switch after having pulled the window up manually.

As always, any and all help is greatly appreciated!

And my sincerest wishes to all for a happy and healthy holiday!

[Big "J"]

Try putting another clip in it and see if the regulator is still functional?

Good Luck!

[luvmy03E53]

The clip I'm referring to is shown in the photo here, lying next to the regulator. I'm not sure if these are available separate from the regulator. I haven't found them yet using realoem. What's also very interesting to me is that I can't find any remnants of the original clip.

[oldskewel]

Originally Posted by luvmy03E53

The clip I'm referring to is shown in the photo here, lying next to the regulator. I'm not sure if these are available separate from the regulator. I haven't found them yet using realoem. What's also very interesting to me is that I can't find any remnants of the original clip.

Those are what I refer to above as "regulator clips" (I made that up - they seem to be just called clips). BMW does not sell them separately, but search on ebay and you will find many good replacement options in the $12-15 range. You will also need those other parts I mention, window clips, bushings, and screws - those are NOT included with the regulator.

[oldskewel]

You're not the only one!

I found a similar situation when I fixed the driver's window in my 2001 x5 3.0 last week. This was a problem when I bought the car last month, so I really don't know the history.

When I got the panel off, there was no vapor barrier.

The clip on the aft regulator cable was mangled but still attached, giving the window some functionality - it would go almost all the way up if you helped it along. The clip on the forward regulator cable was completely missing, along with the clip/bushing/screw that attach to the window more directly. There was some shrapnel inside the door, but not enough to account for these missing parts. My only guess is that someone tried and failed to hack it and figured they'd sell the car.

There are 2 things that are called "clips" here, and I found it initially confusing: the piece of plastic that directly contacts the glass is called a clip - I'll call it a window clip; also, the metal/plastic part that connects the regulator cable to the window clip is also called a clip - I'll call it a regulator clip. There is no PN since BMW does not sell it separately. They can be found on ebay for about $14/pair.

I ended up replacing everything: vapor barrier (51-48-8-402-389), window clips (51-33-8-254-781), bushings (51-33-8-242-760), screws (07-14-7-154-229), door panel clips (most were cracked) (51-41-8-224-768). When figuring out where to get the regulator clips, I found an aftermarket (Evan Fischer EVA16772019251 from Amazon) complete regulator, including regulator clips for $30, so I bought that, thinking I was getting the regulator for about $18 since I would not need ti buy regulator clips. 51-33-8-254-911 would be the PN for the driver's complete regulator.

It all went in just fine, and I'm glad I bought all the new clips, etc. rather than trying to zip tie it, etc. as you may find.

So to answer your questions more directly:
My question is, do I therefore need an entire regulator assembly, or do I just need a new clip?
If the forward one is fine (I would not count on that), at a minimum you need the window clip, screw, bushing, and regulator clip (off ebay). But not the whole regulator assembly. May as well repair the forward one as well though - it will just double the parts price from $10 up to $20.

I'm thinking the front clip is still intact, since I can lower the window with the passenger door switch after having pulled the window up manually.
Yes, still attached, but my guess is that it will be mangled. The regulator clip is a metal/plastic molded part (i.e., the plastic is molded onto/around the metal so it cannot be repaired with new plastic, just replaced) - on ebay you will find variations on all plastic, to different parts metal vs. different parts plastic. But it's probably mangled.

When I did mine, after disassembly and waiting for the parts to arrive, I semi-permanently propped the window up with a modified broom handle that was screwed into place.

[Joshdub]

Slowly roll the window up to where you can see the bracket that the clip bolts to. Then you can inspect the bracket thing to see if all you need is the clip and bolt.

[Ricky Bobby]

The clips on the left at the bottom? You can get better ones from www.regulatorfix.com he posts on here

[luvmy03E53]

Thanks for the quick replies, Gents!

Oldskewel, in my situation, would it not be better to just replace the complete passenger door window regulator assembly? It seems to me that in the time it would take to replace the clips, I could install a new regulator. Also, my fear is that replacing the clips only will resolve the issue for now, but that in a year or two I'll be back in there again to replace the regulator. Do you trust a regulator with a price so significantly lower than OEM? I'm a bit of a stickler for using OEM when I can. Not that I'm opposed to saving money, just don't want to sacrifice reliability (read chinese parts).

(ATTN: please direct all flames regarding OEM reliability to your recycle bin... )

RB, thanks very much for the tip on the clips. I assume you've used clips from them before?

[oldskewel]

Originally Posted by luvmy03E53

...Oldskewel, in my situation, would it not be better to just replace the complete passenger door window regulator assembly? It seems to me that in the time it would take to replace the clips, I could install a new regulator. Also, my fear is that replacing the clips only will resolve the issue for now, but that in a year or two I'll be back in there again to replace the regulator. Do you trust a regulator with a price so significantly lower than OEM? I'm a bit of a stickler for using OEM when I can. Not that I'm opposed to saving money, just don't want to sacrifice reliability (read chinese parts)...

Once you've got the door panel off, figured out what you're going to do, and got all the parts in hand, you're 90% of the way there (unless you triggered the airbag light, but that's another story). So complete new regulator vs. just new regulator clips is not much difference.

New regulator (with clips) takes about the same time as putting new regulator clips on an existing regulator. Yes, it will take a minute or two to R+R the regulator clips on the original regulator, but if getting a new regulator, you'll need to R+R the motor (3 Torx T30 screws = easy). So about the same effort either way. Either way, the regulator has to come out of the door (5 10mm screws = easy).

From examining the regulator clip that came off my car, vs. the ones on the replacement regulator, vs. the ones on ebay, I don't see anything that would make me trust one much more than any of the others.

When I bought my $30 regulator with clips, I figured I was getting clips for $14 and the rest of the regulator for $16. The regulator that was in there looked to be just fine and I figured I would swap the new regulator clips onto the old regulator, keeping the new regulator as an almost free spare, if the new one looked marginal in any way. But it's a pretty simple thing - some pulleys, cables, sheet metal. The new one fit perfectly and looked to be a functionally exact match, so I used the new one (not R+R'ing the regulator clips) and instead saved the original one as a spare that I don't expect to ever use.

Works fine, of course.

Regarding longer term durabilty, I've got to say that I've been driving and repairing my own cars for about 30 years now, and before buying the x5 last month, I had never even heard the term "window regulator." So here's a case where it's not like BMW is an especially trusted supplier.

If I could have found an OE regulator for $50, I would have paid the extra and hoped it was real. I don't understand pricing of many parts, but that $30 regulator I got looked just fine.

[Ricky Bobby]

I haven't yet Gary, but I will someday I'm sure. Knock on wood I haven't had a regulator issue to date, but I would use their clips when the time comes, but I think you actually need the black clip that holds the window in place based on your pic, no?

I'd get 2 fresh ones and 2 retaining nuts